City-owned transportation company PT Transjakarta has signed an agreement with the Jakarta Research Council (DRD) to expand its route network and bus services.

"We have asked the DRD for support, because we have been assigned [by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan] to develop a public transportation network [that covers] 80 percent of the city [with stops within] 500 meters walking distance from [people’s] homes," Transjakarta president director Agung Wicaksono said on Monday after the signing ceremony at City Hall on Monday, as reported by kompas.com.

He said the firm had yet to create a concrete program for expanding the Transjakarta service and expected the cooperation with the DRD to help the firm identify problems and develop public transportation in the city.

"The DRD will contribute the research to [help us] achieve our target," he added.

The DRD was established by the governor to provide research-based input on city policies.

DRD head Dadang Solihin said his office was ready to help Transjakarta reach its goal. 

"The policy to implement a strategy must be based on studies, so that it is scientifically accountable," Dadang said.

The council would discuss how to accurately devise a strategy for Jakarta’s public transportation, he added. (sau).